Action off Lofoten

Action off Lofoten
Part of the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War
The capital ships that fought during the action off Lofoten: Scharnhorst (top), HMS Renown (middle), and Gneisenau (bottom).
Date 9 April 1940 Location off the coast of Lofoten, Norway Result British victory
Belligerents
Kriegsmarine	Royal Navy
Commanders and leaders
Günther Lütjens	Sir William Whitworth
Strength
2 battleships	1 battlecruiser 9 destroyers
Casualties and losses
2 battleships damaged 6 killed	1 battlecruiser slightly damaged 2 killed

The action off Lofoten was a naval battle fought between the German Kriegsmarine and the British Royal Navy off the southern coast of the Lofoten Islands, Norway during the Second World War. A German squadron under Vizeadmiral Günther Lütjens consisting of the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau met and engaged a British squadron under Admiral Sir William Whitworth consisting of the battlecruiser HMS Renown and nine destroyers. After a short engagement, Gneisenau suffered moderate damage and the Germans withdrew.